PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nedjeljko Markovic (ranked 3048 p4p, 2642 weight class) and Dexter Roussel (ranked 409 p4p, 371 weight class). Roussel has chosen Manau - J'ai laissé là bas as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Markovic
vs
Roussel

189 cm
22
205
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
203
4 - 2 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nedjeljko Markovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dexter Roussel!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roussel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Markovic.
Roussel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Dexter Roussel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Markovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Markovic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Markovic has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Roussel finds it's way round the side to connect with Markovic's head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Markovic.
Nice defenses there by Markovic.
Roussel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Markovic ducks under a wild hook from Roussel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roussel throws out a loose jab but Markovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roussel misses with a right hand
and Roussel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Dexter Roussel has been cut.
Roussel lands with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Markovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Roussel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Roussel misses.
Markovic feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Roussel lands a jab to the nose.
Roussel with a nice cross.

Roussel forces Markovic back against the cage and clinches.
Roussel misses with a body punch.
Roussel throws a punch but it's blocked by Markovic.
Markovic is looking to break free of the clinch but Roussel has double underhooks.
Markovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roussel has him pressed against the cage.
A short uppercut from Roussel.
Roussel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Roussel lands an uppercut.
Markovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Roussel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Markovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roussel blocking some punches.

Markovic manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roussel with a jab.
Roussel throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Markovic counters with a head kick that drops Roussel to the mat! Roussel scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Roussel is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roussel misses with an uppercut. Markovic saw that one coming.
Markovic looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Roussel darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Markovic slips a jab from Roussel.
Roussel lands a lovely overhand right.
A jab from Roussel misses.
Roussel is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Markovic had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

Markovic drops Roussel with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Roussel looks back up at him and smiles so Markovic waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Roussel is still on wobbly legs! Can Markovic finish him?
Roussel throws a lazy right hand but Markovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Roussel seems to have recovered his senses.
Roussel sizes up Markovic with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Roussel misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Roussel misses its intended target.
Markovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roussel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Markovic to the mat! Markovic manages to get full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Markovic holds on and takes a little breather.
Markovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Markovic tries to get out of the position.
Roussel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Markovic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Roussel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Markovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roussel throws a big right hand that misses.
Roussel lands a couple of elbows.
Markovic keeping moving, preventing Roussel from controlling successfully.
Roussel is in close to Markovic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Roussel connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roussel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roussel is in close to Markovic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've been informed that Roussel has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roussel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roussel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roussel landing with the ground and pound.
Markovic keeping full guard, as Roussel tries to pass.
Markovic looking to control.
Roussel throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roussel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Roussel cracks Markovic with a solid left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roussel with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Roussel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dexter Roussel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roussel throws a hook to the side of Markovic's head but Markovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Markovic fires out a quick counter leg kick but Roussel just manages to avoid it.
Roussel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Markovic on the side of the head.
Roussel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Markovic.
As Roussel backs away, Markovic returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Roussel connects with a single shot there.
Good exchange - Roussel coming out on top.
A lazy left from Roussel finds it's target.
Markovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markovic was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Roussel misses with a lunging right hand
and Markovic counters with a straight right hand.
Markovic avoids the body shot from Roussel.
Markovic swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Markovic. Roussel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Roussel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roussel throws a hook but Markovic blocks it.
Markovic fires out a quick counter leg kick but Roussel just manages to avoid it.
Roussel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Roussel misses with a straight left.
It appears Markovic was looking to counter with a kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Roussel misses.
Markovic is looking to counter with a body kick.
Roussel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Markovic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Roussel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Markovic slips a straight right by Roussel.
Nedjeljko Markovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roussel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Markovic counters with a nice body shot.
Markovic blocks a jab.
Roussel throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Markovic was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Roussel.
Markovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Roussel throws out the jab.
Roussel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Markovic. Markovic circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Roussel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Roussel feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Markovics jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Markovic blocks a jab.
Roussel lands a nice hook to Markovic's body. Markovic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roussel scores with a jab to the body.
Roussel might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Roussel looks to land a right hand but Markovic moved out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Markovic misses its target.
Markovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Roussel.
Markovic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Markovic does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Roussel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Markovic on the side of the head.
Markovic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Roussel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Markovic is looking to wear down Roussel with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Roussel slips a jab from Markovic.
Dexter Roussel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roussel changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Roussel throws a big shot that misses.
Markovic blocks a jab.
Markovic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roussel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Markovic looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Roussel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Markovic.
Markovic slips a jab from Roussel.
Roussel throws a looping overhand right but Markovic ducks down to avoid it.
Markovic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Roussel throws a big shot that misses.
Markovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markovic jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Roussel misses with a straight left.
The fighters circle momentarily. Roussel darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Roussel scores with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Roussel misses the target.
Markovic throws a big counter combination but Roussel scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Roussel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Markovic is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markovic takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Roussel misses with a jab to the body
and Markovic counters with a nice kick to the body.
Roussel is breathing heavily.
Markovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Roussel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Roussel thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roussel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Roussel lunges at Markovic with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Markovic's hand.
Oh Markovic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Roussel drops Markovic with a straight right hand, right on the button! Roussel follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dexter Roussel!
Dexter Roussel bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.